“A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons” - Kate Khavari

(Saffron Everleigh book 1)


🌹Saffron Everleigh is struggling to make her mark in the extremely male-dominated field of botany. While I loved the POV of a young, scientist trying to progress in academia, I can’t say I loved the character. She makes 1 hare-brained decision which undermines all of her scientific rationality. Regrettably, she also plays to type - requiring Alex Ashton to come through with the calm reason. Her lash-batting feminine wiles act was particularly aggravating considering the harassment she’s endured in her department. TBH I liked Alex more than Saffron.


🌹 We are in post-WWI London where everyone is nursing wounds both physical and mental. ABGPP underscores the effects of wartime propaganda as young men (and women) return from the front lines having seen and endured things which their countrymen at home could scarcely imagine.


🌹For a pair of brainy scientists, Saffron and Alex make foolish choices. They stumble upon some incriminating information but don’t solve the case per se. Not to say that readers aren’t given a tidy conclusion; it’s just that the final puzzle pieces was discovered by happenstance not sleuthing.


🌹The mystery was interesting - especially the identity of the plotter/s and the actual intended victim.


Comments

Popular Posts